Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-13
IN MARBLE AND BRONZE.
Unveiling Ofthe Gar6el0 statue in " ash.
ington-President Cleveland Paws a
Graceful Tribute to HIS Character
Monument Erected by the Generals
Old Comrades in Arms.
WASHINGTON. NAV l2.

erected by the Society of the Army of the
Cumberland, was unveiled in Washington Al,
O'Clock this afternoon.
The society met at Grand Army hall for a
short business meeting at 10. so this morning.
At ll.30 the procession, which was long and
imposing, started from the hall for the square
where the statue stands. II was viewed by
thousands of people. General Baird and his
aids preceded in a carriage. in which were
Generals Sherman, Sheridan and Rosecrsns.
three of the four living commanders of the
Army Of the Cumberland; General Buel was
unable to be present. Then followed the
first and second divisions Of the G. A. r
The whole division WAS under command of
Major Goodloe of the marine corps.
The procession arrived at the monument
shortly after IL and the exercises were I'M
mediateiy begun. The grand stand was pro.
fusel decorated and was fully occupied by
ladies and gentlemen, AS was also the speak
ers stand pair of armed chairs placed in
the centex>of the stand was reserved for Pres
ident and Mrs. Cleveland. James AMI Harry
Garfield were escorted to seats by General
Mussey. Secretary Bayard and Attorney
General Garland were among the early ar
rivals and were seated to the lett of Mrs
Cleveland. The members of the Supreme
Court of the United States came in body
and were seated in the first row on the left
Of the speakers stand. District judiciary,
members of the court of claims and district
commissioners were also present. Repre-
sentatives of the diplomatic corps were placed
on the right of the stand. At one o'clock
Generals Sherman. Sheridan and Rosecrans
and Governor Curt arrived, just after the
procession made its appearance.
They were soon followed by President
Cleveland, escorted by General Anderson
and Secretary and Mrs. Fairchild, Colonel
and Mrs. Lamont, Postmaster General Villas
and Secretary Lamar. Mrs. Cleveland came
accompanied by Mrs. Folsom, Miss Bsyard
and Miss Welch, just after one, and took her
seat beside the Presidents chair.
Ex-Secretary Window and ex Attorney
General MacVeagh of President Garfield's
cabinet were among the guests present. At
l so the services were Begun by Rev. DIR.
Geisy, who offered up PRAYER, after which
the Marine band struck up "Hail to the
Chief" and amid clappipg of hands the
American flag enveloping the statue, was
dropped
Gen. Sheridan then introduced the orator
of the day, Hon. J. Warren Keifer, who pro-
ceeded to deliver his oration, long and elab-
crate eulogium.
General Sheridan, turning to the President,
addressed him briefly as follows:
Mr.. President-This statue, which has
been unveiled in your presence today, was
erected by the comrades of Gen. Garfield be-
longing to the Army of the Cumberland
They r. recognized his merit as soldier and
they wished to pay some testimony to that
merit and to his worth as a man. | have the
honor, sir, on behalf of the society of the
Cumberland, to ask you, as the representa-
tive of the American people, to accept this
statue from their hands as it was given to
me. (Applause.)
The President. who arose as General Sher-
idan began speaking, then began his address,
accepting the statue as a gift to the nation.
He said:
This stately efiigy shall not fail to teach
every beho!der that the source of American
grestness is confined to no condition, nor de-
pendent alone for its growth and development
on favorable surroundings. As this statue
stands let it be proudly remembered that to
every American citizen the way is open to
fame and station until he, moving up from
high to higher, becomes on fortunes crown
ing step the pillar of peoples hope, the CEN
tire Of a worlds desire.
The President then spoke of the sad lesson
which the statue teaches and referred in
touching terms to the last days of the gen
erals life. He closed with q graceful tribute
to the dead Presidents character.
During the delivery of his address the
President was frequently interrupted by out
bursts of applause. He spoke fuently in a
clear voice audible to most of the crowd that
filled the circle before the stand. When he
had concluded the band played "Hail Colum-
bia," and Rev. +. ID. Power, who was pastor
of Gen. Garfield's church in this city, pro.
nounced the benediction. The troops were
theu dismissed and the ceremonies came to
an end.
The statue, which 10 of bronze, is the de-
sign of Sculptor Wood who also designed
the equestrian statue of Gen. Thomas in this
city.
The movement for the erection of a monu-
ment to the memory of General Garfield had
its inception on the day of his death. The
Society of the Army of the Cumberland, Of
which Gen Garfield was a bright and con-
spicuous member, had met in annual reunion
at Chattanooga, Tenn. Ii was a meeting of
special interest, as the ex-confederates of
that region, in which the Army of the Cum
berland fought its battles and won its fame,
had united in an invitation to the society to
hold its reunion in their midst. They want
ed to meet the men they bad fought on so
many battlefelds in ocial intercourse. Gen.
Garfield heartily approved of this reunion Of
soldiers of both sides, aud had promised to
be present; but he was stricken down by the
assassin's bullet. and the society on the day
OF its assembling received the news of his
death. The first suggestion of a stone in
commeratiou of Gen. Garfield was contained
in the following telegram from Gen. X. ID.
Mussey to the society in session at Chattan-
oogo: "Washngton members propose q
memorial stone to Gen. Garfield in Washing
ton Monument by our society,"" This des-
patch was dated Sept. 81, 1881, and the
suggestion was promptly adopted by the soci-
ETY.. The Tennessee members offefed q
block of Tennessee marble for the purpose
and finally the duty of having it prepared
and sent to Washington was committed to
Generals H. Wilder. Houk and Pettibone of
Tennessee. Col. Casey. when consulted
about the matter, said that instead of block
of marble a thin slab or tablet containing the
inscription wanted, had better be forwarded
and that he would have it set in the monu
ment at the height il had reached when Gen
Garfield died.
At this session of the society, and imme-
diately after the reading Of Gen. Mussey's
despatch in regard to the memorial stone,
Lieut.. John B. Ruhm of Nashville submitted
the folio ring resolutions, which we're adopt
ed:
That q committee of nine members be sp-
pointed by the president of the society on or
hefopo the the lth of lanunrv nert and that